AIBU to scream and panic when knocked over in the dark suddenly?

The possibility of the blasted dog being lost would have been the least of my worries.

I have also had experiences of out of control dogs jumping up at me, with the owners assuring me that ‘they are only being friendly’

You had every right to be angry with the owner.

Maybe contact the dog warden? It might have happened before?

Lavazza I really sympathise, it must have been very frightening, you're not being silly. I hope you can recover from the fright and regain some confidence. Go well.

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What a very nasty experience, I hope you are feeling better.
Please don’t let this stop you going out. This must be a rare experience. I presume it has never happened before and the chances are it will never happen again. Do you use a stick when you are walking to give you a bit more stability?

Maybe if you looked on your local Facebook page there may be some news about the dog still missing or hopefully found and that would give you piece of mind.

I hope you are not too bruised and shaken up.

Reiterates previously deleted post.

What a horrible experience Lava and it says it all that the dog owner was on his phone instead of watching out for the dog - so typical these days, I'm afraid. Hope you are feeling better.

It really doesn't help to start winding up the already defensive people by suggesting that the poster is false.
I would like to agree with the large number of people who have said that the dog was out of control and the owner irresponsible.

I too have suffered dogs jumping up and messing up my clothing; one of my children was terrified by a terrier, who was 'only being friendly' jumping up and nipping; I've been nearly knocked off my feet by a dog off the lead and received an aggressive response when I asked for an apology. I've seen a dog worrying sheep with a useless screaming dog owner standing helplessly by.

So many dog owners now don't know how to train dogs or that they have a responsibility to keep them under control and not a nuisance to others.
I'd report this to the police or the suggestion above about using a local Facebook group to make this public is a good one.

Talking about dog owners in the way some people are on here would be totally unacceptable if you swapped colour, creed or race for the words "dog owners". As for the post by Phoenix, who quite rightly the defended majority dog owners, talking about ^ the little old lady with her spaniel/Yorkshire terrier/Labrador (whatever) is the same as the young lad with his collie/staffie/mongrel?^ is also stereo typing. I see lots of people of both descriptors and you get varying degrees of training, social responsibility and politeness from both.
Lavazza1st, (our favourite coffee too) I am so sorry you are going through a traumatic time. If you don't know what it is like for somebody to suffer PTSD, it can be difficult to understand the impact of what such an incident can have on you.
As for the dog owner, on the face of it, it was ignorant of him not to apologise or be "in charge" of his dog. However, he was probably panicking too and sometimes rational thought goes out of the window. For all we know, that dog might be the only thing he has to love in his life or maybe his kids' dog. Dog theft is so prevalent these days, especially if the dog was a particular breed, losing it might have left him equally overflowing with adrenaline.
Just for the record, I am a dog owner, I do pick up after him, he has been trained, I do get him back on lead when I meet people on our walks and I would be totally mortified if he hurt anyone in any way. However, I also meet loads of people who behave totally inappropriately towards my dog too. Parents who let their children touch him without asking, people who start grabbing their little dogs and shouting before he is anywhere near them and cyclists who whizz past us leaving a hair's breadth between us. If anything happened, somehow it would probably be "the dog's fault"!

I hope you are feeling better now. I'm arthritic too and have poor balance and know being knocked over can be painful.

I love Lavazza Oro and Asda often have it for £3

Some people shouldn't be allowed dogs. I'm sorry but dogs should be kept on the lead and not be allowed to run free. Many times I've seen dogs harassing children other dogs etc their owners nowhere to be seen. It must have been a dreadful scary experience for you. I think because of the situation we are in we are all feeling a bit more vulnerable and fragile. A few weeks ago I got stuck in the lift at the complex l live in l absolutely lost it. I think if that had happened at any other time l would have coped with it calmly. Perhaps your partner can walk the dog at night until you feel able to go out after dark again. I hope you get your confidence back soon so that you can take your dog out and enjoy much needed exercise and fresh air. There must be something wrong with this person to accuse you of taking the dog. Why won't people take responsibility for their actions or at the very least apologize. I really hope you will feel better soon.

Glad to hear you’re feeling better Lavazza
To be honest, I would report this to the police, not because you were knocked over by the dog, although that is the height of irresponsible dog ownership, but because the dog owner followed you and threatened you. It’s lucky your partner was with you.

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Hope you are feeling better this morning lavazza1st

Hi, I would imagine that said owner and dog use this route with the open gate to the Church a lot as dog can run inside do its business and owner just has to wander along the road, probably doesn't know what a poo bag is. maybe have a word with the Church perhaps they could close the gates of an evening after all, the parishioners would not like to be stepping in it either. Hope you feel safe again soon x

In reply to Phoenix and Kalu I don't think a sweeping statement at all. The times I have been out walking and dog jumped up on me or scraping their paws on you, it just shouldn't happen, the owner needs to have the dog under control and not jumping up at people. The owner says to me the dog is only playing! Well I don't want the dog playing on me. I do have plenty of contact with dog owners Kalu and pleased to say the people I personally know have full control over their dogs (and children!) and well behaved dogs and children are a delight.

I was knocked over by a large labrador which the owner thought was very funny. I was very stiff for a few days and felt very upset. it wasn't the scary experience you had however, the owner really should have apologised. I owned a dog and I would have been mortified if it had casued someone to fall .

I am surrounded by lovely people who are excellent dog owners and applaud them for this.

But those few who do not take their responsibilities seriously really do adversely affect the lives of others; both other dog owners (and other dogs) and those who do not own dogs.

When I am out walking in the woods I do not know whether the dog growling its way towards me is safe; whether an owner is about to appear; whether that owner will be responsible and keep the dog from jumping all over me. Bad dog owners are a total menace.

I do not know whether the owner is similar to the one described in OP, or whether I am going to face someone who is responsible and keeps their dog under control.

It is a big problem for those who like to go out for a walk, are physically vulnerable (if I fell over there is no way I could get up) and do not know what they are going to meet up with on their walk.

In my experience, responsible dog owners are as annoyed by this sort of dreadful behaviour as non-owners.

Lavazza1st - I fully understand why this has made you lose confidence in going out. Every day when I go for my walk I feel wary of what I am going to meet. I hope you are feeling fully recovered now.

My suggestion might or might not be helpful....
But do you have a local Facebook group for your immediate village/road/area?
If so, consider getting a friend or acquantance of yours, someone who doesn’t live near you, to post with details about the incident on there.
To tell others to be aware, to ask - does anyone know the owner of the dog, and that you are “being assessed for your injuries after being knocked to the ground in the dark” (it could potentially have been a nasty hip,knee, shoulder or head injury).....then locals will be aware, you may gain local support and maybe even the perpetrator himself will be outed (and made famous!) but you could be kept safely at arms length?

Back to soap. Like everyone I know, I had gradually changed to shower gel and handwashing liquid, but with recent shortages, and guilt about unnecessary plastic, decided to try soap again, and find it so much easier! Only one hand needed, and no spillage.
I've gone back to.old favourites...Pears transparent, which lasts so long, and Wrights Coal Tar, which is softer, but makes me feel so clean!
I've even got a bar of green washing soap to use on stains before washing.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

In my opinion, I think you should report the incident to non emergency police. This dog owner was irresponsible by having the dog off lead and in the dark. His priority should have been to make sure you were okay physically and mentally and to be profusely apologetic.
The fact now is your confidence has been impacted and will need nurturing until it is restored.
I hope you soon feel better but in no way must you take any blame in this whatsoever. You've been very unfortunate bumping into one of lifes' nasty characters. It speaks volumes that he transferred the blame on to you. Take care ?

Well Lavazza, hope you’re feeling better today. What a bad experience. An over excited dog and an irresponsible owner causing so much grief.
Happily most dog owners including you are responsible and hopefully this won’t happen to you again so please take a deep breath and get out there like getting back on a horse.
Poor Marydoll suffered too as she apparently dreamed about your incident and I was put on the case to sort it out (in her dream). Weird times.
Hope you regain your confidence soon.

Hi Lavazza1st I imagine if someone upright and in control of a situation with a strange dog, stopping the urge to scream is a possibility. If you're flat on your back, screaming will be instinctive. Add your PTSD to the mix... I don't see how anyone could expect anything else.
Please don't feel upset that he might not find his dog. Maybe the dog was making a break for it.
Joking apart, your concern is heart-warming, even though the man doesn't deserve it.
Please don't think your dog doesn't trust you, he/she may well pick up on your anxiety and want you both to avoid danger and stay home. But, I'm sure with short ventures out, perhaps a couple of times of day for ten minutes or so in daylight and you will both reclaim your confidence. Do you have a garden where you can walk your dog on the lead, to get used to the idea of lead walks being ok again?
It wasn't your fault, don't let the A hole get to you. Best wishes and a hug.